Pneumatic agitator washer



Jan. 13, 1953 N. B. WALES PNEUMATIC AGITATOR WASHER Filed June l5, 1950INVENTOR Patented Jan. 13, 1953 PNEUMATIC AGITATOR WASHER Nathaniel B.Wales, New York, N. Y., assgnor to Industrial Patent Corporation, NewYork, N. Y.

Application June 15, 1950, Serial No. 168,326

4 Claims.

Vduring its oscillation or rotation for Washing.

This invention uses a unitary element for the Washing or agitating meanscomposed of a exible rubber material molded into a form which not` onlyprovides means for its dilation when under iluid inflation tosqueeze-dry the laundry but also to give an adequate degree of rigidityto agitate the wash and wash Water during the washing period when it isoscillated. Provision is also made to partially inflate the convolutedagitator during its oscillation to compensate for the weight of water inwhich it is substantially immersed.

An object of this invention is to devise an extensibly-formed unitaryagitating or washing element which will serve both as a washing meansand as a squeeze-dry means.

A further object is to utilize a low degree of fluid pressure Within theextensible agitating elelment to assist to maintain its water-displacingy factor when it is oscillated during a Washing period and a higherdegree of fluid pressure within the element to completely inilate theagitating element to its normal maximum of displacement to squeeze-drylaundry in the washing machine.

A further object is to incorporate the inflation of the agitatingelement into the predetermined cycle of an automatic washer.

Other objects Will be apparent from the specic details of structure seenin the -accompanying speciiications and drawings in which similarnumerals refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly schematic of aWashing machine in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a section of the agitating element taken on lines 2 2 inFigure l.

In Figure 1, numeral l is a Wash tub which is shown in spherical form.Numeral 2 is a case in which tub I is enclosed. A laundry-access door 3closes aperture 3a in tub I and the door 3 is shown suitably hinged at2l to c-ase 2 and locked thereto by latch 22. A shaft 3 having orifice8a therein is secured to base plate 'I, and shaft 8 passes into tub Ithrough huid-sealing means IB secured to member 24 which member mayserve as a support for tub I as Well as a spacer for the innerperforated liner 4 which acts as a pressuresqueezing anvil Within tub I.A iiexible fluidtight rubber Washing element or agitator 5 is suitablysecured at its base to plate l. Conventional motor-driven means, notshown, actuate shaft 8 preferably in an oscillatory motion to therebyoscillate agitator 5. Agitator 5 is shown in its normal position duringwashing and rinsing and due to the thickness of the rubber molding ofwhich it is formed and its convoluted form, its stability is suilicientto displace and agitate the w-ash water when it is in a state ofoscillation.

To materially increase the stability of agitator 55 when immersed invwash water, provision is made through orifice 8a in shaft 8, Whichorifice communicates with the hollow interior volume 5a of yagitator 5,to maintain a predetermined fluid pressure therein from air compressoror pump 6 through pipes 26 and pipe 25 which is hermetically connectedto orifice 8a in shaft 8 by the pressuresealing gland member Se forrelative angular movement therebetween. A dual pressure control switchI2, the actuating diaphragm 35 of which is actuated by the fluid meanpressure existing in pipes 25, 26 and 2l as well as Within washingelement 5, actuates the dual switch contactsv 36 and 3l, which inturnopen or close their respective control circuits 3I-32 and SI2-32which are -in circuits, not shown, connected with 'master cyclic controlclock I which is conventionally used in automatic washers to determinethe operative automatic washing, rinsing and extracL tion cycle in termsof duration and degree as .manually pre-set by control knob 20 thereof.

In this manner, during the Washing period of the automatic cycle, themaster cyclic control clock l0 dictates 'the operation of the pump 6 toinflate the Washing element 5 to neutralize the collapsing factorthereon of the weight of water now in tub l, rlfhis inflation continuesuntil switch 35 is opened by a predetermined relatively low pressureexisting in washing agitator 5 as reflected on diaphragm 35. This lowpressure iniation neutralizes the collapsing elect and increases as wellthe rigidity of pneumatic washing element 5. The pressure switch 36 nowbreaks circuit 3i--32 leading to master cyclic control clock l! and themotor, not shown, ceases to ac,- tuate pump S. Again, during thewater-extraction period of the automatic cycle, master cyclic controlclock lll dictates the operation of pump t through circuit Eil- 32connecting in switch 37 incorporated in pressure control I2 with control3 clock i0. However, when the pump 6 has inflated pneumatic washingagitator 5 to a relatively high predetermined pressure sufficient toadequately extract water from the laundry in tub I by washing element 5now dilated to a position indicated by numeral I'I, switch 3l opens toterminate a further increase of pressure. It is to be noted that switch3'.' is so positioned in respect to switch actuator 38 that diaphragm 35must be deflected against spring 45 to a greater degree to effect theopening of circuit 30-32 by switch 31 then is the case in opening switch35. Like- Wise, magnetically-actuated valve I3, which connects tub Ithrough tub port 9 through pipe 28 and 29 with the hot and cold watersupply through the temperature mixer 4I as Well as drain Valve I4, maybe actuated in any suitable timed cyclic action as dictated by cycliccontrol clock I to ll or drain tub I during the washing and rinsingperiod in the washers automatic cycle.

The yinflatable agitator due to its normally convoluted structure 5c hassufficient amplitude to vassume the position I'I, shown in broken linesin Figure 1, when the cyclic control clock I0 dictates through pressurecontrol I2 to pump vI5 to raise the pressure within element 5 to fillits interior volume 5a to a pressure adequate to squeeze-dry the laundryin tub I, which is lshown at I5 pressed against perforated surface 4therein.

The combined washing andI squeezing element 5 -may be formed to providearms or blades II, shown in Figure 2, to effectively displace wash waterin tub I and to give added rigidity to its normal contour. The washingelement 5 is hermetically secured to ysupport plate I which is of adiameter to afford a stable support to element 5.

The operation of my invention as incorporated in lan automatic washer isas follows. When manual cyclic control dial II) is set to start thecycle, valve I4 is closed and valve I3 is opened and the watertemperature mixer is set to give the desired wash water temperature.Watel` is admitted to the interior of tub I through pipes 28 and 29 andthrough tub port 9. 23 in cover 3 permits the escape of air therein dueto the waters displacement thereof. When a. desired volume of wash waterhad been admitted into tub I, its level in tub I is controlled by afloat control, not shown. The cyclic timer control I0 now dictates theclosure of valve I3 and the oscillation of shaft 8 by motor actuation.Soap having -been added to the wash water, the laundry washing periodstarts. After a predetermined period as dictated by timer control I 9,

drain valve I4 is opened and the wash water emptied from tub I and asmany rinsing operations follow by a repetition of the above procedure astimer control I0 may dictate.

At the termination of the last rinsing operation, timer control IIJcloses the vent valve I5 and starts the compressor 6, likewise stoppingthe motor-actuated oscillations of shaft 8 and washing element 5. The4pressure in interior volume 5a of element 5 now rises to apredetermined degree as dictated 4by pressure control switch I2, therebydilating the convolutions 5c in element 5 so that element 5 assumes aninflated position as is seen by numerals I'I, squeezing the laundry I5against the perforated partition 4 in tub I to squeeze dry said laundryI6.

Advantage may be taken of the source of fluid pressure from compressor 6to partially inflate element 5 during the washing and rinsing periodsThe air vent i as has been previously described by incorporating a dualcritical pressure point in pressure-actuated switch I2, a lower one forypartial inflation during the washing period to compensate for thehydraulic pressure existing on element 5 due to its submerged positionand a higher pressure point which is attained for squeeze-drying, thecyclic timer control II) dictating the circuit in use in whichparticular pressure point is effective in respect to the washing orsqueeze-drying periods.

To those skilled in the art, it is evident that the form of convolutions5c together with the varying thicknesses thereof as determined inmanufacture of element 5 can produce a waterdisplacing factor from theoscillation of element 5 without exceeding a fatigue point in the rubbermaterial thereof over a conventional service period.

What I desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is encompassedin the following claims.

I claim:

1. A laundry washing machine comprising a substantially double-walledtub, a laundry-access opening in the top thereof, a closure therefor, aperforate laundry-squeezing surface formed by perforations in theinnermost wall of said tub, said perforations extending about itsvertical axis, means to lill said tub with washing fluid, means to drainsaid double-walled portion of said tub, a hollow washing element in thevertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivate said washingelement, said washing element formed of a fluid-tight flexible materialand incorporating therein normally compacted convoluted surfaces wherebyto increase the rigidity of said flexible material in order to agitatesaid washing fluid by the mechanical agitation of said element, andmeans to inflate 'said washing element with fluid under pressure tosqueeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforate surface by theunfolding of said compacted convolutions.

2. A laundry washing machine comprising a tub, a laundry-access openingin the top thereof, a closure therefor, a perforate water-extractingsurface formed by a perforated portion of the tub extending about its`vertical axis, means to collect on .theexterior of said perforated tubportion 'water thus extracted, means to fill said tub withwashing fluid,means to drain that exterior portion of the tub which is perforated, ahollow washing element in the vertical axis of said tub, means tomechanically motivate said washing element, said washing element formedof a fluidtight flexible-material and consisting of normally convolutedsurfaces whereby to increase the rigity of said flexible material inorder to agitate said washing fluid by the mechanical agitation of saidelement, and means to inflate said washing element by a pressuredifferential between the interior and the exterior of said washingelement to squeeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforatesurface.

3. A laundry washing machine comprising a tub, a laundry-access openingin the top thereof. a closure therefor, a double-walled structureincorporated in a portion of said tub, the inner wall thereof beingjperforate to form a perforate laundry-squeezing surface about thevertical axis of said tub, means to fill said tub with washing fluid and,means to drain said double-walled portion, a hollow washing elementinthe vertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivate saidwashing element, said washing element formed of a fluid-imperviousflexible material and having normally compacted convoluted surfacestherein, means to partially inflate said element `with a fluid wherebyto increase its rigidity and decrease its deformation during itsmechanical actuation to agitate said washing fluid, and means to fullyinate said washing element with fluid pressure to squeeze-dry laundry insaid tub against said perforate surface.

4. A laundry washing machine comprising a symmetrical tub, alaundry-access opening in said tub, a elo-sure therefor, a double-walledstructure incorporated in a portion of said tub, the inner wall thereofbeing perforate to form a perforate laundry-squeezing surface about thevertical axis of said tub, means to ll said tub with washing uid andmeans to drain said double-walled portion of said tub, a hollow Washingelement in the vertical axis of said tub, means to mechanically motivatesaid washing element, said element formed of a fluid-tight flexiblematerial and having hollow horizontal projections about its axis adaptedto agitate said washing fluid when said washing element is mechanicallymotivated, and means to inflate said washing element by a fluid pressuredifferential between its exterior surface and its interior surface tosqueeze-dry laundry in said tub against said perforate surface.

NATHANIEL B. WALES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

